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Throughout the season, the San Francisco 49ers’ offense has been all about overcoming injuries to some of their most important players. Christian McCaffrey has only played one game this season, Deebo Samuel has dealt with various injuries, and Brandon Aiyuk was ruled out for the rest of the year after tearing his ACL in Week 7.
However, the 49ers are starting to get healthier just when they need it most as they aim for a playoff spot. While Aiyuk is out, McCaffrey, Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and quarterback Brock Purdy are all ready to go as Week 11 begins. But there’s one key player missing from this list: George Kittle, the All-Pro tight end.
Kittle, known for frequently appearing on the injury report, is dealing with a hamstring issue this week. Let’s take a closer look at his situation as the team prepares for their game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Will George Kittle play this week?
Kittle has been making progress in practice this week. He didn’t participate on Wednesday but was able to join the final two practices on a limited basis. Although Kittle often seems to be questionable, he’s known for playing through injuries and rarely misses a game. Given his limited participation in practice this week, it would be surprising if he didn’t suit up, but there’s still uncertainty about whether he’ll be available.
Reports late Saturday night, including from Adam Schefter, suggest we’ll have to wait and see whether Kittle is active for the game. We’ll continue to provide updates on his status as more information becomes available.
Who is George Kittle’s Backup?
If Kittle isn’t able to play, the 49ers have a backup plan in place. In Week 3, when Kittle missed a game due to a hamstring issue, veteran tight end Eric Saubert stepped in. Saubert played 86% of the snaps that week and would likely take on a similar role if Kittle is unavailable this week. While Saubert will get plenty of playing time, it’s important to note that he’s not as much of a focal point in the offense as Kittle, especially with talented players like McCaffrey and Samuel around. Saubert’s role will likely be more about filling in the snaps, even if his contributions in the passing game are limited.
Fantasy Outlook for George Kittle in Week 11
Kittle has been one of the top fantasy tight ends this season, outpacing everyone else with over 15 fantasy points per game. He gives fantasy managers a huge advantage at the tight end position. If Kittle plays, he’s a lock to be in the conversation for the top tight end ranking every week. In fact, he was ranked second in this week’s Sporting News’ tight end rankings, just behind Travis Kelce.
However, based on the latest reports, we’ve removed Kittle from the rankings for now, as there’s a good chance he may not play. If he’s out, Eric Saubert will likely get most of Kittle’s snaps, but don’t expect him to match Kittle’s fantasy production.
